M. 4 Mar 1691 in Northampton, Massachusetts2
Wife: Hannah Strong
D. 18 Apr 1738 in Coventry, Connecticut3
Benjamin Carpenter was a farmer and a house builder, but for a short time in his life, he took care of his town's jail. He was born on October 23, 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to William Carpenter and Priscilla Bennett,1 both of whom were born in England. Sadly, his mother died at the time of his birth.4 He had two older brothers and an older sister, and when he was two-months-old, his father remarried,5 producing nine more children.
By 1691, Benjamin had relocated to Northampton, where on March 4th, he married Hannah Strong,2 a native of the community. They would have 12 children together, born between 1692 and 1711. Benjamin’s father died in 1703 and left him some land in Rehoboth,6 but he later gave some of the land to his half-brother Nathaniel, and the rest to his brother William.7 Perhaps because Benjamin didn't live in Rehoboth he felt they could make better use of it.
In colonial towns, individuals were often assigned to perform duties for the community, and in 1707, Northampton appointed Benjamin to be “Master of the House of Correction.”8 The concept of a prison or jail in early 18th century New England was somewhat different than today. Jails weren’t intended for long-term confinement; instead, a prisoner was held until their trial, then after judgment, they’d either be released or punished on the spot. At the time Benjamin was in charge of the jail, it was a newly constructed building of about 24’ by 16’.8
Benjamin soon gave up his duties as jail keeper because in 1708 he moved to the new settlement of Coventry, Connecticut,8 becoming a respected member of the community. He died on April 18, 1738 and is buried in Nathan Hale Cemetery in Coventry.3
Record from a Coventry town meeting in 1715 that mentions Benjamin's work on a meetinghouse.
1. Prudence Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692, Coventry, Connecticut9
2. Freedom Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692,Coventry, Connecticut;10 D. after 13 Jun 1766, (probably) Coventry, Connecticut;11 M. Benoni Bernard (1683-1750), 13 Jun 1712, Coventry, Connecticut12
3. Amos Carpenter — B. 6 Nov 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts;13 D. before 23 Jul 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;14 M. Deborah Long (1698-1784), 23 Oct 1718, Coventry, Connecticut15
4. Benjamin Carpenter — B. 3 Oct 1695; D. 29 May 1785, Coventry, Connecticut;16 D. 29 May 1785, Danbury, Connecticut;17 M. Rebecca Smith (1705-1788), 12 Apr 172618
5. Jedediah Carpenter — B. 1 Oct 1697, Northampton, Massachusetts;19 D. 15 Dec 1731, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;20 M. Mercy Brown (1699-1751), 24 May 1725, Rehoboth, Massachusetts21
6. Hannah Carpenter — B. 15 Aug 1699, Northampton, Massachusetts22
7. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 16 Oct 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts;23 D. after 25 Aug 1702, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts24
8. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 29 Nov 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts;25 D. 22 Feb 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;26 M. (1) Elizabeth Andrews (1706-1773), 1 May 1727, Coventry, Connecticut;27 (2) Abigail Ladd (~1740-?), 26 Oct 177328
9. Noah Carpenter — B. 4 Dec 1705, Coventry, Connecticut;29 M. Kesiah ________24
10. Elisabeth Carpenter — B. 15 Jul 1707, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;30 M. Truman Powell (~1702-1759), 6 Mar 1727, New London, Connecticut31
11. Ebenezer Carpenter — B. 9 Nov 1709, Coventry, Connecticut;32 D. 19 Jan 1777, Hartford, Vermont;33 M. Eunice Thompson (1722-1777), 1739, Coventry, Connecticut34
12. Rebecca Carpenter — B. 23 Nov 1711, Coventry, Connecticut35
Sources:
1 Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
3 Death record of Benjamin Carpenter, Connecticut Deaths, 1640-1955, FamilySearch.org
4 Death record of Priscilla Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
5 Marriage record of William Carpenter and Miriam Searls, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
6 Will and Estate Inventory of William Carpenter, 1702 and 1703
7 Quit claim deed from Benjamin Carpenter, 22 Jun 1708
8 History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
9 Birth record of Prudence Carpenter, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch.org
10 Birth record of Freedom Carpenter, C.B. & C.
11 Bill of sale of land from Dan Barnard to “my hon’rd mother Freedom Barnard of Coventry,” dated June 13, 1766
12 Marriage record of Benoni Barnard and Freedom Carpenter, Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org
13 Birth record of Amos Carpenter, C.B. & C.
14 Connecticut Courant, 23 Jul 1792, “died at Coventry, Mr. Amos Carpenter, aged 99”
15 Marriage record of Amos Carpenter and Deborah Long, C.M.
16 Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.B. & C.
17 Death record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.D.
18 Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Rebecca Smith, C.M.
19 Birth record of Jedediah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
20 Death record of Jedediah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
21 Marriage record of Jedediah Carpenter and Mercy Brown, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
22 Birth record of Hannah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
23 Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (older), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
24 A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos B. Carpenter, 1898
25 Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
26 Death record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), C.D.
27 Marriage record of Eliphalet Carpenter and Elizabeth Andrews, C.M.
28 Genealogy of one branch of the Carpenter family, p. 4, Martin Leonard Roberts, 1877
29 Birth record of Noah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
30 Birth record of Elisabeth Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
31 Marriage record of Truman Powell and Elisabeth Carpenter, C.M.
32 Birth record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.B. & C.
33 Death record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.D.
34 Marriage record of Ebenezer Carpenter and Eunice Thopmson, C.M.
35 Birth record of Rebecca Carpenter, C.B. & C.
